§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had pressing for a delay of one year in the introduction of the general certificate of secondary education in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsRepresentations have been received from one local education authority, the local authorities committee of the WJEC, the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association, a county group of secondary headteachers, a county branch of the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers, the governing bodies of eight secondary schools, a federation of parent teacher associations, one individual parent teacher association and nine individuals.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate for each local education authority in Wales of the cost of providing new materials for the new 115W general certificate of secondary education examination courses; and by what mechanism he proposes to make new funds available to these authorities to meet this additional spending requirement.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsEducational provision is for individual local education authorities to determine on the basis of local needs and priorities. However, given the importance of this reform, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science announced on 13 March at column 542, that we propose to use the education support grant mechanism to assist secondary schools with purchase of books and equipment.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that adequate provision has been made in Wales for retraining teachers prior to September for starting to teach courses leading to the general certificate of secondary education examinations in 1988.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsYes. The programme of in-service training established by the WJEC is currently under way. That programme is to receive further support, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science announced on 13 March, at column 542.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what indications he has recieved from the Welsh Joint Education Committee concerning the ability of the education sector in Wales to cope with the new general certificate of secondary education examinations in 1988.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe local authorities committee of the WJEC has called for the postponement of the introduction of the GCSE by one year. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science made clear on 13 March, at column 542, that is not an option.